E-mail this article

To:

Invalid E-mail address

Add a personal message:(80
character limit)Your E-mail:

Invalid E-mail address

Sending your article

Lost a bit in all the Adalius Thomas hubbub yesterday is that Globe writer Shalise Manza Youngcaught him just as he was kicking off his annual football camp on the campus of his alma mater, Southern Miss.

The camp -- following the tragic death of area legend Steve McNair -- is now the only one of its kind in the Hattiesburg, Miss. region. And that's why it's particularly meaningful for Thomas to do it.

He had 600 kids there this year, meaning a total of about 6,000 have gone through the camp in its eight years.

"I see some of the kids that are here who are now too old to be in the camp," Thomas said told the Hattiesburg American. "It’s crazy to think that this started eight years ago. There are now kids in the camp who I went to school with their parents. It means a lot to come back and see the kids and have a good time."

Thomas also addressed the issue of his status with the team again, reiterating what he told Shalise, and saying again that the assumption he's heading to the Jets is premature. "Everybody always says the New York Jets because of Rex Ryan. But that’s not the only coach I’ve had. I’ve had Marvin Lewis, Jack Del Rio, Mike Smith, and Mike Nolan. Everybody says the New York Jets because it always creates controversy with New England Patriot fans and the organization because of the rivalry. Miami is in the division as well and Mike Nolan is the defensive coordinator there"

So, like we previously mentioned, whoever loses out on the Jason Taylor sweepstakes should become an immediate candidate to get Thomas once he's released. Nolan, if you remember, tried to get Thomas to come to San Francisco when he was a free agent in 2007.